Garment pressing mechanism



Jan. 28, 1941. ac. Lx-:cHLER GARMEINT PRESSING MECHANISM 5 sheets-sheet1 Filed Aug. I5, 1936 Jan. 28, 1941. B, Q LEgHLER 2,230,145

GARMENT PRESSING MECHANISM Filed Aug. s, 193e 5 sheets-sheet' 2 Jan. 28,1941.

B; C. LECHLER @.fsu'r PREssING Mmcmmsnlv Filed Aug. 3, 1936 5Sheets-Sheet 5 ,n v/N am m HMA [22N W. y NNN Hz; |fl| /Qw a m ...3i www.l \N Etw Ni QN SEQ Q QN mmwnww w maw un Mum@ Patented Jan. 28, 1941UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GARMENT PRESSING MECHANISM Application August 3, 1936, Serial No. 93,978

5 Claims.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in power operatedgarment presses, and more particularly to such improvements in automaticvalve mechanisms for controlling the operation of such presses.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned bypractice with the invention, the same being realized and attained bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together withthe description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail, with parts in section and parts in plan,of the controlling valve mechanism, taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar detail view, with parts in elevation and parts insection, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig, 2;

Figure 4 is a detail View of the same mechanism and the actuatortherefor, this mechanism being shown in the assembly near the center ofFig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the iluid pressure actuating mechanismand the controls therefor, and shows also diagrammatically tandemcontrol for two presses;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through a diiferent form of valve mechanismtaken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 7 is a full elevation looking at Fig, 6 from the left.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved garment pressingmechanism which is simple, powerful and accurate both in constructionand operation, in which a garment pressing device is moved to and fromthe working position and a final pressing action of slight movement butgreat power is imparted to press the garments; to provide in such amechanism, a novel and very simple and reliable valve mechanism forcontrolling the fluid pressure to move the parts and to exert the finalpowerful garment pressing action; to provide simple but reliable autoi'matically acting fluid pressure operated means for applying the powerfulpressing action, and for holding it at the option of the operative; toprovide in such simplified mechanism against stalling and back action ofthe mechanism; to provide a controlling valve mechanism in which thereis maximum elimination of mechanical parts and at the same time greatsimplicity of the air pressure controlling means concomitant withincreased smoothness and reliability of action,

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated by way ofexample in the accompanying drawings, it is shown applied to a garmentpressing machine having a frame comprising a base I and vertical legs ormembers 2 supporting a horizontal table 3. Mounted upon and projectingupwardly from the table 3 is a pillar or gooseneck 4 on top of which ismounted a lower or stationary pressing buck 5. The embodied means forsupporting and actuating the upper or movable pressing buck I0 comprisesa lever Il, pivotally mounted at a median point I2 on a pillar I3 whichis integral with and extends upwardly from the general frame of themachine. The upper buck I0 is mounted to have resilient and conformingpressure upon the garments being pressed, and so far as concerns thepresent invention any suitable means for effecting this pressure may beemployed. As shown, a knife edge pivotal mounting is furnished by aV-shaped recess I6 formed in the top of the buck into which .projects anarrower V-shaped knife edge projection Il which is fixed on andprojects from the outer part of the arm H. The buck I0 is resilientlysupported by a plurality of springs I8, I9 and 20, which press themembers I6 and I1 yieldingly together, While permitting resilientrocking of the buck Hl. Either or both of the bucks may be supplied withheating means, and as shown the upper buck Il) is so equipped, steambeing supplied to the interior thereof by a pipe 2 l. In the embodiedform of actuating means for the lever il and the buck lil (Fig. 1), theyare held in the elevated or' idle position by suitable resilient means,and from that position they are preliminarily swung downwardly intoposition closely adjacent to the work, and then the work pressure isexerted on the garments by pneumatically operated mechanism, workingagainst said resilient means. As embodied, the resilient moving meanscomprises twin tension springs 36 and 3l, which are fixed at their lowerend to a yoke 32, which is pivotally mounted at 33 on the machine frame.These springs at their upper ends are fastened to rods 36 and 31, xed toand projecting from a yoke 38, which is pivoted loi at 39 to the lever II near` the opposite end thereof from the buck I9. These springsmaintain the lever and buck resiliently in the elevated or idleposition, and automatically return them to that position after thepressing operation is completed.

In the power-operated means for doing the pressing, as embodied, a rod41 is pivotally connected at its upper end 48 to the end of the arm Il,and its lower end rod 41 is pivotally connected at 5U to a lever 5|. Theembodiedrform of actuating means (Figs. 1 and 5) comprises a cylinderoperating by air pressure and having- ,the arm to the working positionagainst the action of springs 39 and 3| and are movable in oppositedirections, under interposed air pressure to effect the short but heavypressing movement. As embodied, a cylinder 54 is pivotally suspended atits top end by means of upwardly projecting arms 55 and 56, which arepivotally supported at 51 upon the machine frame. Within cylinder 54 isa lower piston 59, to which is Xed a piston rod 6|), projecting throughthe bottom head of the cylinder and pivotally connected at 6| to theother end of the lever 5|. Piston rod 6|) is hollow to provide an airconduit into the space between the pistons, as will be later des-cribed.Also within the cylinder 54 is an upper piston 63, to which is fixed apiston rod 64, which projects through the upper head of the cylinder.Piston rod 64 at 65 has a pin-and-slot connection with one end of alever 66, which is pivotally mounted at 61 upon the machine frame.Pivotally connected to the opposite end of the lever 66 at 68 is a rod69. The other end of rod 69 is pivotally 4connected at 10 to a bentlever 1|, which is pivotally supported at 12 upon the machine frame, theother end of the lever -being pivotally connected at a median point 13to the lever 5|. n

The manner of operation of the precedingly described mechanism issubstantially as follows:

When the press is idle and the buck l0 is in the elevated position, inwhich it is resiliently held by the springs 39 and 3|, the pistonsI 59and 63 are in the upper part of the cylinder 54, as shown at the rightin Fig. 5. Air is rst admitted into the top of the cylinder 54 above thepistons, and they are driven downwardly together,

this movement swinging lever 5| about its Divot 13 on lever 1|, and withit the lower end of rod 41. The upper end of rod 41 concurrently rocksabout its upper pivot connection 48, and during this movement arm swingscounterclockwise about pivot I2, and at the end of this movement buck IDis just above the work resting on buck 5, and rod 41 and lever 5| are inthe straightline relation shown in Fig. l. During this joint movement ofthe two pistons, lever 66 also has been rocked clockwise about its pivot61, and it in turn has rocked through a very small arc the lever 1|,this movement being substantially idle so far as concerns the operationof the machine. When the mechanism is in this position, the buck I8 isjust above the garments resting on the stationary buck 5 and is ready toreceive the short movement and heavy pressure required to press thegarments. The air pressure is now relieved above the piston 63,and airpressureisintroduced between the twgo pistons throughthe conduit inhollow piston rod 6|). By this pressure piston 59 is held at the 'bottomof the cylinder 54, holding pivot point 6| stationary, and piston 63 isthereby insuring against injury to the operatives hands by themechanism. This manually actuated valvecontrol primarily brings the armand the buck I0 to the operative position just above the work, andthereupon air-pressure operated means are automatically called intooperation to-put on the powerful pressure for pressing thev garments.Means are incorporated withv the aforesaid mechanism for insuringcertain and smooth institution and operation of the automatic mechanism,as will hereinafter be more fully described. As embodied, air pressureis supplied frorn any suitable source to a pressure header 8|. A pipe 82connects from the header' 8| tov the first of the two series connectedmanually operated valves, that is, a valve mechanism 83, which isspring-closed and manually opened. The valve has at one end an airchamber 84, into which the pipe 82 connects, the chamber being normallyunder the air pressure. The valve is double having valve disc 85admitting pressure to the mechanism and valve 86 normally exhausting tothe atmosphere. The valve discs are connected by a rod 81, one end ofthe rod projecting from the opposite end of the valve casing for manualoperation. A spring 88 cooperates with the vair pressure in the chamber84 to hold the valve 85 normally clo-sed against the air 4pressure-fromthe header 8|. The air chamber 84 communicates with the air passage 89when valve 85 is opened by manual actuation by the operative, and by thesame movement valve 86 cuts off the exhaust. Each of the manuallcontrols for opening the valves to let the air pressure into-the machinecomprises a lever 90, pivotally` mounted at 9| on the valve casing, thetail end 92 of the lever contacting with the external end of the valverod 81, so that when the levers 9|) and 95a are pressed by the attendantthe air will be passed through the valve to operate the machine. Airpassagev 89- in the rst valve 83 connects by a pipe 94 with the airchamber 84a of a second valve 96, which puts` valve 96 in series withlthe valve 83. The two valves are preferably identical instructure andthe corresponding parts of valve 96 are indicated by the same referencenumerals with exponents a added. When valves 83 and 96 are closed, theair passages 89 and 89a communicate with the atmosphere through vents 93and 95a. From the air passage 89a the pipe 911conveys the air pressurethrough flexible pipe 98 into the top end of the cylinder 54. Thus whenthe hand levers and 99EL are simultaneously pressedr by the operative,the air pressure from the header 8| is admitted above the pistons 63 and59, moving them downwardly together andswinging the arm' and buck I0 upto the working position, as previously described. l

Referring now to the automatically operated air pressure means forexerting the further powerful pressing action on the garments (Figs. 2to 5), avalve mechanism is yprovided for 'releasing the air pressurepreviously exerted above the pistons, and for introducing air pressurebetween the pistons. As embodied, a valve II is mounted on a bracket I II mounted on the machine frame. This valve comprises a chamber H2, into.which the compressed air from the header 8| is normally admitted througha pipe H3. Within the chamber is a double valve, having a valve disc 'H4within chamber H2 and normally closing a port from chamber H2 into anair passage H5. Disc II4 is mounted on a rod IIS, and on the other endof the rod is mounted a valvedisc II1, this disc having an actuating rodor projection I3 eX- tending through and projecting outside the valvecasing. A spring H9 is in compression between the Valve disc H4 and ascrew-plug |25 which closes the end of the valve. Both the air pressurefrom pipe H3 and the spring H9 normally hold the valve disc H4 in closedposition. A pipe |21 communicates from air passage H5, by means of aflexible pipe |28, to the air passage within the hollow piston rod 60whereby the air pressure is introduced between the pistons 59 and 53when valve ||4 is automatically opened by the mechanism just at the endof the movement of the buck I0 up to the work ready to exert the heavypressure thereon.

The means for actuating valve mechanism I I0 to automatically exert theheavy pressure on the garments is operated by the movement and positionof the mechanism which swings arm to bring the buck I into position justover the work lying on the buck 5,.as just described. Means are.likewise pro-vided for insuring certainty in the y operation of thevalve mechanism IIIJ, and also devices for holding the pressure on thework until released by the operative. As embodied (Fig. l) an arm is xedto, and extends downwardly from, the lever 66, and the actuating devicewhich engages valve II@ is mounted in the end of the lever |35, theparts being proportioned and positioned `so that the valve will beactuated automatically immediately on the two pistons reaching thebottom of the combined down stroke, at which time the .lever arm |35 isat the extreme left end of its travel in Fig. 1. The arm |35 swingsbackwardly toward the right during the independent upward movement ofthe piston 53. The embodied form of valve actuating means v comprises ahead |35, integral on the end of the lever arm |35 (Figs. 1 and 4)Within the hollow head |36 is mounted a longitudinally reciprocable pin|31. This pin is urged outwardly, to the left in Fig. 4, by acompression spring |38 coiled about the reduced shank |40 of the pin |31and in compression between the rear of the pin head an-d the back end ofthe recess |4| within the head |36. The forward movement of pin |31 islimited by a lock nut |42 screw-threaded on the rear end of the shank I4t, which projects rearwardly from the back of the head 3B. The spring|38 is more powerful than the spring I I9 plus the force of the airpressure on disc I i4 (Fig. 2) so as to provide sunicient yieldingpressure to readily and quickly open the valve at IM and close it at H1.

The holding means for effecting delayed or continued pressure on theWork, as embodied, operates by the air pressure. As so embodied (Figs.

42i, 3, and 4), a bent lever |48 is pivoted at |49 on a bracket |58,which is fixed to and projects from the valve casing. 'I'he head |5| ofthe lever arm rests against the projecting end H8 of the valve stem. Inthe opposite end of bent lever |48 is mounted a screw-threaded pin I 54,the

inner end of which abuts against the outer end of a pin mounted to movelongitudinally in a boss |56 in the casing |51 of the auxiliary holdingvalve. The inner rounded head of pin |55 abuts against a diaphragm |58,mounted within the chamber |59 to form an air-tight partition. A port|60 communicates between the valve chamber' |59 and the air passage H5previously described. To further insure certainty and smoothness ofaction, and to guard against possible play or variation in, the movementof the parts, as embodied, an air-actuated interponent mechanism isprovided whereby a movable member is interposed between the head |5I ofthe bent lever |48 and the actuating pin |31 of the lever arm |35. Insaid mechanism, as embodied, a valve casing |54 is mounted upon orintegral with the structure of the Valve HD. Within the chamber |85 ofthis valve is a diaphragm |65, forming an air-tight partition within thechamber. Reciprocably mounted in the valve casing is a pin |61, having arounded head |68 resting against the diaphragm |55, the shank of the pinextending outside the valve casing. A coiled spring |69 is incompression between the back of the head of the pin and the valve casingto hold the pin lightly to the diaphragm. Pivotally mounted at |1| tothe outer end of pin |61, exteriorly of the valve casing is a block-likeinterponent |12, this interponent being movably mounted within andsupported by a rectangular, apertured frame |13, mounted on andprojecting from the valve casing. The rear part of chamber behind thediaphragm |66, communicates by a pipe |14 with the air pressure pipe 91previously described herein.

The manner of operation of the precedingly described actuating andholding mechanism is substantially as follows:

To direct the air pressure between the pistons to automatically impartthe heavy pressure to the work: This is done by actuating double valveH4, H1. When the valve handles 80 and 9GB are manually actuated, the airpassing through pipes 91 and 88, drives both pistons 58 and '53downwardly together, thereby swinging arm II in the counter-clockwisedirection and bringing the buck I just above the work, and during thismovement lever 66 and arm |35 swing in clockwise,

direction. During this movement of the pistons, the air pressure alsopasses from pipe 91 through pipe |14, and the resultant pressure invalve chamber |65 moves interponent |12 outwardly into alinement withthe head I5| of lever |48, that is, from the position of Fig. 3 to thatof Fig. 4. Just as lever I 35 reaches the end of its clockwise movementjust described, pin |31 engages the back of the pivoted interponent |12,and with strong yielding pressure moves the double valve H4, H1 to theleft in Fig. 2. This opens the port at H4, letting the air pressure intopipe |21, and closes the port at I I1, shutting of the exhaust. Thus theair pressure from pipe |I3 passes through chamber H5, pipe |21, andhollow piston rod 6U to move piston E2 upwardly, while piston 5S is heldat the bottom of the cylinder, as already described.

To automatically hold the heavy pressure on the work until manuallyreleased by the oper-ator: Immediately on the opening of valve H4, aspreviously described, the permanent maintained air pressure from theheader 8| passes through the port |69 into air chamber |59, whereupondiaphr-agm |58 projects pinv |55, and arm |48 holds the double valve H4,||1 in the open posivtion until the air pressure in chamber |59 ismanually released by the operative as later described. 'I'his manualrelease of the air pressure from the holding mechanism comprises a valvechamber I8I, communicating by a pipe |82 with a port on the pressureside of the air chamber |59. Valve chamber I8| is provided with a disc|83 normally pressed by spring |84 to close a port |85 whichcommunicates with the atmosphere. The stem |88 of the valve .|83projects from the casing, and a pivoted handle |81 is mounted on thecasing, and when swung by the operator opens the valve |83 and relievesthe air pressure from the chamber |59. Thereupon spring ||9 closes valve||4 and opens Valve ||1, and connects pipe |21 with exhaust pipe |9I,thereby relieving the pressure between the cylinders, and permitting thesprings 30 and 3| to swing the arm clockwise back to the open or idleposition.

In Figs. 6 and 7 a diierent form of valve mechanism for exerting andcontrolling the final pressing movement is` shown. 'I'he structuralfeatures of this valve are very simple, comprising only a fewsubstantially rectangular plates and blocks which may be readily coredor machined from the exterior and which require relatively little workof either kind. The valve has no external movable parts, and isassembled by bolting the plates and block together, as by screw-bolts|99. In the body or block 200 is formed an air chamber whichcommunicates by a pipe 202 with the operative-controlled air valves 90and 90a, as by the pipe 202, which is the same as the pipe |14. Airchamber 20| communicates by an air passage 203 with an air chamber 204,having an exhaust port 239. A double valve has a disc 201, controllingthe port between chamber 20| and air passage 203, and a valve disc 209,controlling the port between air passage 203 and an air chamber 204, thetwo valve discs being carried on a rod 208 to move together. A coiledspring 2I0 acts to normally hold valve 201 closed and valve 209 open.This double valve has an actuating pin 2|3 projecting from the rear ofvalve disc 209, and projecting through the wall of the valve casing, andthis projecting end is engagedy by the'pin |31 to operate the valve.

Another air chamber 2 I9 is formed in the rear part of the valve blockand communicates by an air passage 220 with an air chamber 22|. A doublevalve has a valve disc 222 which controls the port between the chamber2|9 and passage 220, and a valve disc 224 which controls the portbetween. the passage 220 and an air chamber 22 I the discs beingconnected by a rod 223. A coiled spring 225 normally holds valve 222closed and valve 224 open. A diaphragm 23| constitutes the outer wall ofthe air chamber 22|, and on the outside of this diaphragm is an airchamber 232, the other wall of which is a diaphragm 233, and outside thediaphragm 233 and between it and the outer casing of the valve structureis an air chamber 234. A spacing device 235 is interposed between thediaphragms 23| and 233 to maintain them in spaced-apart relation and tocommunicate pressure and movement from one to the other.

Air chamber 204 has an exhaust port 239, and an air passage 240communicates between air passage 203 and air chamber 232. An air pipecommunicates between the pressure header 8| and air chamber 2| 9, andcorresponds to air pipe |I3 previously described and bears the samenumeral. An air pipe communicates between air passage 220 and the hollowpiston rod 80, and has the same function as pipe I 21 previouslydescribed and'b'ears the same number.4 An air passage 243 communicatesbetween air passage 220 and chamber 234. An exhaust port from airchamber 234 connects into pipe |9|. The valve rod 223 at its right-handend has a rounded projection, making a socket fit within a hollow plate245, mounted on the diaphragm 23|, whereby pressure against thediaphragm will open valve 220 and close Valve 224 against spring 225.

The operation of the mechanism just described is substantially asfollows:

When the air pressure is admitted by the manually operated valves 90 and90a, air chamber 20| is put under pressure at the same time that the airpressure through pipe 98 drives both pistons downwardly together toswing arm I tobring the pressing buck I0 to the work. At the end of thismovement, pin |31 engages head 2|3, pushes it inwardly, and therebycloses valve 209 and opens lvalve 201. 'Ihe air pressure, passingthrough passage 203 and port 240, enters chamber 232, and by movingdiaphragm 23| to the left closes valve 224 and opens valve 222. Thisadmits the air pressure from the header 8| through pipe ||3 into passage220, and also through passage 243 into air chamber 234, and diaphragm233 is therefore moved to the left and placed under pressure to holdvalve 222 open. Pin |31 in the meantime has receded from the head 2|3,and valve 201 has closed and valve 209 has opened, and air chamber 233is exhausted to the atmosphere through port 239. The pressure in chamber234 will be maintained andv will hold valve 222 open and valve 224closed until the pressure in pipe |21 and chamber |34 is released by theoperative tripping the valve |83.

That is, the heavy pressure will be maintained on the work until theoperative trips'valve |83.

Means are provided in accordance with one feature of the invention foroperating two pressing machines in tandem, and such an arrangement is.shown diagrammatically in Fig. 5. When the machines are operatedseparately, the` valves and 252 are closed, and where one machine isoperating independently there will be no pipe connections between thetwo machines. 'I'he automatic control for the two machines, as em-lbodied, comprises a valve 254, which communicates by a pipe 259 with theair pressure pipe 91 which is controlled by the manually-operated valves90 and 90a. The valve 254 has a diaphragm 2482, the air pressure formpipe 259 acting on the diaphragm within a chamber 263. In contact withthe opposite side of diaphragm 282 is the stem 264 of a valve 265, whichvalve controls an exhaust port opening from the air chamber 288. Aspring 281 normally holds the valve 285 closed, except when pressure isadmitted to chamber 283 to open the exhaust valve against the pressureof the spring 281. Chamber 288 communicates by a pipe 288 with the pipe|82 (previously described) which is in the exhaust line between thepressure chamber |59 of the valve mechanism shown in Figs. 21, and 3.,and the operative-actuated release valve |83. When the machines areoperated in tandem, and the valve handles 90 and 90ab are actuated toopen the valves to put the pressure for the initial stroke on theleft-hand press, the air pressure through pipe 259 will open the exhaustvalve 285 and take the holding pressure off the other press; and in likemanner when the lvalve handles 90c and 90cl are operated to put theheavy pressure on the right-hand press, the holding pressure will berelieved on the other press.

The invention in its broader aspects is not' limited to the specificmechanisms shown and described, but departures may be made therefromwithin the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from theprinciples of the invention and Without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What I claim is:

1. In a garment pressing mechanism having a pair of cooperating pressingbucks, at least one of saidpressing bucks lbeing movable to and frobetween the work pressing position and an idle position, a mechanismincluding a plurality of levers, a cylinder having two independentlymovable pistons, means for moving the pistons together and separatelyand separate connections from the pistons to said levers for moving apressing buck to and from the work pressing position and for exertingheavy pressure on the work, valve mechanism for supplying fluid pressureto said mechanism to move said pressing buck to the work pressingposition, valve mechanism operating automatically to apply fluidpressure to said mechanism to press the buck heavily against the work,means supplied with fluid pressure by the opening oi said last-mentionedvalve mechanism and operating automatically to maintain fluid pressureto hold the heavy pressure again the work, manually operated valvemechanism for releasing the pressure on the work, and means for movingsaid pressing buck away from the work pressing position to the idleposition.

2. In a garment pressing mechanism, a pair of bucks, means including amultiple piston cylinder for bringing one of the bucks to the Work, anair supply therefor including an automatically closable' valve andWorkman-operated means for opening the valve, and means including an airsupply to effect heavy pressure upon the work and a valve thereforeoperated by the mechanism, and fluid pressure means operating to holdsaid Valve open to continue the heavy pressure on the Work.

3. In a garment pressing mechanism, in combination a pair of pressingelements, one of said elements being movable, means for moving one ofsaid pressing elements, including a cylinder having two pistons andconnections therefrom to said pressing element, the connections from onepiston moving said pressing element to and from the Work,the connectionsfrom said other piston acting through said first-mentioned connectionsto press. said pressing element heavily on the work, said connectionscomprising a medianly pivoted lever connected at one end to a piston rodand devices connected to the other end of said lever for eifecting saidheavy pressure.

4. In a system of garment presses comprising first and second presses,the combination of control means for operating said presses by fluidpressure comprising separate fluid-pressure means for the first andsecond presses to impart closing and heavy ironing pressure movementsseparately to the respective presses, separate operative-actuated meansincluding control valves to control the admission of fluid pressureseparately to said fluid-pressure means for each press, separate meanson the rst and on the second presses respectively for holding the heavyironing pressure thereon, said holding means being operatedautomatically by valves actuated by the movement of its respectivepress, each press having a separate fluid-pressure release Valve forreleasing said holding pressure, and a connection between theuuid-pressure control valve for the nrst press and the release valve forthe second press to automatically operate said release valve to open thepress by the turning on of the fluid pressure for closing the rst press,and a connection between the fluid pressure control valve for the secondpress and the release Valve for the first press to automatically operatethe release valve for the rst press to open the press by the turning onof the fluid pressure for closing the second press, whereby one press isreleased of ironing pressure as closing pressure is applied to the otherpress.

5. In a garment pressing mechanism having stationary and movablepressing elements, a fluid actuated member for forcing said movableDressing element heavily against the work on said stationary element, avalve for admitting uid pressure to actuate said member, a second valve,means comprising a pressure operated pivoted arm adapted to be operatedautomatically by the admission of fluid pressure through said valve toopen said second valve to maintain uid pressure upon said actuatingmember and thereby to maintain the heavy pressure upon the Work.

BRUNO' C. LECHLER.

